ROUTINE SCREENING COULD PREVENT MENTAL DECLINE

HEARING loss can often be so insidious at first that you don’t really notice it.

It’s only when others point out that you’re constantly asking them to repeat themselves, or you keep turning up the sound on the TV, that you become aware you have a problem.

And, all this time, your social and work life might be suffering needlessly.

Many people struggle for years with hearing loss before they seek help. While most of us don’t have a problem with admitting bad sight

or wearing glasses, it’s another story when it comes to hearing loss — and it’s often thanks to the stigma about using a hearing aid.

Hearing tests are free in specialist providers in Ireland. They are not offered routinely by the HSE.

In Britain, to identify hearing loss as early as possible, ENT UK, the professional body for ear, nose and throat surgery, has been campaigning for a universal hearing screening test to be introduced for the over 50s — in the same way there is national screening for bowel and breast cancers.

There are no such calls however being made in Ireland as of yet, but this is a great idea. It would allow problems to be detected earlier and solutions offered, so people wouldn’t have to suffer a period of undiagnosed, uncorrected hearing loss, which in turn can contribute to health problems such as depression, dementia and falls.

It could also help detect the cause of the problem, such as hardening of bones, benign tumours and swelling of the inner ear due to pressure.

The 50s is a good age to be screened as this is when age-related hearing loss really starts to kick in.

Since 2016, the technology for measuring hearing loss has improved.

Hearing tests no longer need to be performed in soundproof booths in hospitals; they can even be done using smartphone technology and headphones at home.

Routine testing would encourage people to get diagnosed earlier, stop their hearing getting worse and prevent countless thousands suffering needlessly in silence.